Plein Air en Bourgogne

June 11 - 18, 2027

Travel with me to the Burgundy region of France for an intimate, more authentic European experience! Immerse yourself in the perfect artistic environment: an idyllic rural landscape, quintessential French culture and people, extraordinary local wines and celebrated Burgundian cuisine, all in the company of a supportive community of artists.

This will be my second Plein Air en Bourgogne and I’m especially excited to be planning this one for June when the days are long and temperatures ideal for outdoor painting. We’ll be returning to Château de Missery and the warm hospitality of owner Lucy Hawkes and her staff. I am thrilled Chef Laure will once again be preparing our meals with fresh, local, and traditional Burgundian ingredients.

Château de Missery (“Miss-ree”) is an authentic French 18th century château with four 14th century medieval towers. It is surrounded by a moat. We will paint in the gardens and on the grounds of the Château and the surrounding area. We’ll take a short drive on market day to Saulieu, the Côte-d’Or small town renowned for its gastronomy. We’ll go to medieval Vézelay, an historic pilgrimage destination, now a Unesco World Heritage Site. We’ll also visit Beaune, wine capital of Burgundy, and tour the 15th century Hôtel Dieu des Hospices. We will have expert local guides transporting us and introducing us to the history of the area and its regional specialities including Burgundy’s world class wines.

Château de Missery is located in quiet, hilly countryside in northeastern Burgundy. Small medieval villages are surrounded by vineyards, mustard fields, grazing Charolais cattle, and a network of rivers and canals. The Château is about a three hour drive from Paris, one hour by train, and forty minutes from Dijon. Transfers from Dijon or Paris will be arranged.

The interior of the Château includes a large, elegant dining room, a paneled sitting room opening onto a wide terrace overlooking the moat, a breakfast room, and an enormous entrance hall with a grand piano. There are seven beautifully designed, spacious bedrooms for guests, each with its own character. Some have ensuite bathrooms, others share. Both bedrooms and bathrooms are high-ceilinged and light-filled with windows overlooking the grounds and beyond.

This trip is an opportunity to experience the plein air painting process. All levels are welcome. Artists may use their preferred medium: pastel, watercolor, gouache, acrylic, pen and ink, and/or mixed media. I will give technical instruction in pastel for those who wish. For those opting to use other media, I will offer individual feedback on technique as well as the universal elements of picture making: compositional design, determining value and color, rendering space, and creating form. I will offer feedback and assistance in developing a personal style. My goal is to create an environment where ideas are shared, information exchanged, and each participant is given support to grow as an artist.

There is space for up to 13 guests for the week. Non-painting partners are invited.

Details including cost and daily itinerary are forthcoming. Email marypadgettfineart@gmail.com with your interest and I will send this information once it’s available.

A bientôt!